Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav (Image credit: PTI)

NEW DELHI: India’s march in the T20 World Cup 2026 gathered further momentum in Colombo as they outclassed Pakistan by 61 runs, reinforcing their dominance in the tournament’s most intense rivalry. It was India’s eighth win in nine T20 World Cup meetings against their neighbours, and the comprehensive result ensured qualification for the Super Eight stage with room to spare.Yet, while the scoreline reflected control and authority, the talking point after the final ball had little to do with numbers.

Moments after Pakistan were bowled out at the R. Premadasa Stadium, television cameras captured an animated exchange involving Hardik Pandya, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav. As players lined up for the customary handshakes, Hardik appeared visibly charged up, gesturing toward Kuldeep in what seemed like a heated discussion. Tilak Varma watched on with concern before Rinku Singh stepped in, seemingly attempting to cool tempers.Speculation quickly swirled on social media, with fans debating whether frustration had spilled over despite the comfortable win.Suryakumar, however, moved swiftly to diffuse the narrative. The India skipper shared a light-hearted video on social media in which he is seen walking up to Kuldeep and hugging him warmly. He captioned it: “Gussa chodh do bhai”. The post instantly went viral.India had earlier set the tone through Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 off 40 balls, an innings studded with boundaries that lifted the total to 176. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar ensured stability through the middle overs.The bowlers then dismantled Pakistan with clinical precision. Hardik struck in the opening over, while Jasprit Bumrah’s incisive spell derailed the chase. Axar Patel and Kuldeep tightened the screws as Pakistan’s middle and lower order folded under pressure.

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NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s heavy 61-run loss to India has put their T20 World Cup campaign in danger, and they could be knocked out depending on the upcoming results in Group A. India have already qualified for the Super Eights with three wins from three matches, while Pakistan sit third with two wins and one loss.

The USA’s win over Namibia has further tightened the race, making the final group matches crucial for Pakistan’s survival in the tournament. At this moment, USA and Pakistan have the same number of points (4). However, thanks to having a better net run rate, USA, who have already finished all their group-stage matches, find themselves in the second position on the points table. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson admitted the defeat was hard on the players, saying, “There’s a pretty disappointed dressing room in there at the moment, because they know how much it means to Pakistan.” He added that despite recent winning form, India were simply better on the day. “We know that it’s a huge event, Pakistan against India. We obviously won five games on the bounce before today so we were confident, but today we got outplayed,” he added.India posted 175-7 thanks to Ishan Kishan’s 77, with support from Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube. Pakistan collapsed early to 13-3 and were bowled out for 114, with Usman Khan top-scoring with 44. Hesson defended the decision to bowl first, saying, “I think the ball was spinning quite a lot initially and we started off well but I think the way Kishan played, he took the game away from us.”Now Pakistan must beat Namibia on Wednesday in their final group match to stay alive. If they lose, they will be eliminated. If the match is washed out by rain, both teams will share points, and Pakistan will qualify for the Super 8s.Hesson urged the team to recover quickly, saying, “We have to pick ourselves up and make sure that we’re very good in two or three days.” He added confidence remains, stating, “We have played some good cricket in the lead-up to this World Cup, so we’re confident to do well in the tournament.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 produced another thrilling contest as England overcame a spirited challenge from Italy in the 29th Group C fixture at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. England’s 24-run victory was shaped by explosive batting from Will Jacks and a decisive all-round display by Sam Curran.

England post 202/7 after aggressive batting display

Opting to bat first, England posted an imposing 202 for 7 in 20 overs, maintaining a run rate above ten per over. The innings saw contributions from multiple batters, though it lacked a traditional anchor.

Philip Salt set the tone with a brisk 28 off 15 balls before falling to Ali Hasan. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell chipped in, but wickets at regular intervals prevented England from fully dominating the powerplay.

The middle overs saw Tom Banton and Harry Brook attempt to consolidate, but Italy’s bowlers struck back to keep the contest alive. However, the turning point arrived when Will Jacks unleashed a late assault. Remaining unbeaten on 53 off just 22 deliveries, Jacks hammered boundaries at will, finishing with a staggering strike rate above 240. His fearless hitting in the death overs ensured England crossed the 200-run mark.

21-ball fifty for Will Jacks 🔥#ENGvITA #WillJacks #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9bjL8VcJjO

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026

Sam Curran also played a vital role with the bat, contributing a quickfire 25 off 19 balls before being dismissed.

Also READ: Janhvi Kapoor, Ajay Devgn and other Bollywood celebs react to India’s thumping win over Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026

Italy respond with fighting spirit

Chasing 203, Italy showed remarkable resilience. After early setbacks, Justin Mosca anchored the innings with a well-crafted 43. However, the real momentum shift came through Ben Manenti’s explosive 60 off 25 balls, which brought Italy firmly back into the game.

Grant Stewart further intensified the chase with a blistering 45 off 23 deliveries, keeping hopes alive deep into the innings. At one stage, Italy appeared poised for an upset, especially after crossing 130 in the 15th over.

When pressure mounted, Curran stepped up. The left-arm pacer delivered a decisive spell, claiming three important wickets for 22 runs in his three overs.

Curran removed Grant Stewart at a critical juncture, halting Italy’s charge. He also accounted for Marcus Campopiano and Gian Meade, triggering a collapse that derailed Italy’s chase.

Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer supported with timely breakthroughs, but it was Curran’s control under pressure that swung the match decisively in England’s favour. Italy got all-out for 178 on the last ball of their innings.

With this win, England have reached the Super 8 stage of the competition.

England are through to the Super Eights ⚡#ENGvsITA #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/kHOwkZQ2Ui

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026

Also WATCH: Frustrated Pakistan fans vandalise TV screen after humiliating loss against India in T20 World Cup 2026

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Polished white rice may soon get a healthy makeover, as CSIR–NIIST’s designer rice aims to transform a household staple into a protein- and micronutrient-rich food while reducing its glycaemic impact.The CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR–NIIST) is set to hold a technology transfer ceremony, “CSIR–NIIST Tech Connect: From Lab to Market,” on February 18 at Anusandhan Bhawan, CSIR headquarters, New Delhi, an official release said.The event will formalise the transfer of several indigenously developed technologies to industry partners.The ceremony will include the release and transfer of a low glycaemic index (GI), protein- and micronutrient-enriched designer rice. CSIR–NIIST said the rice is intended to provide higher protein, a lower glycaemic response, and added nutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. The technology will be licensed to Tata Consumer Products Ltd and SS Soul Foods, Tamil Nadu. Dr C Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR–NIIST, received the Tata Transformation Prize 2024 for developing the rice, reported news agency PTI.Other technologies to be transferred include a coffee crema technology that supports stable foam formation, and a bio-based cardanol polyol modified polyurethane dispersion for leather finishing and metallic coatings.Post-harvest technologies, including osmotic dehydrated fruit bites and a ready-to-cook vegetable mix developed using Refrigerated Adsorption Dehumidified Dryer (RADD) technology, will also be part of the transfer. CSIR–NIIST said these innovations help retain nutrients and extend shelf life.The institute will also showcase JAIVAM, an engineered microbiome for rapid aerobic composting, two plant-based leather alternatives made from agricultural biomass, and a project MoU for low-sodium salt formulations designed to reduce sodium content by up to 86 per cent while maintaining taste, the release added, news agency PTI reported.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Centre over the accuracy of video transcripts submitted against detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and said translations must be precise, especially “in the era of Artificial Intelligence.”A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale asked the government to place on record the actual transcripts of Wangchuk’s speeches after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for his wife Gitanjali Angmo, argued that certain statements attributed to the activist were never made by him.

Addressing Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, the bench said, “Mr Solicitor, we want an actual transcript of the speech. What he relied upon and what you say are different. We will decide. There should be an actual transcript of what he says. You may have your reasons.”The top court further observed, “At least, whatever he stated, the true translation should be there. Your translation goes on for 7 to 8 minutes, but the speech is for 3 minutes. We are in the era of Artificial Intelligence; precision is at least 98 per cent for translation.”Sibal questioned the authenticity of the translated material placed before the court and said, “Wangchuk continued his strike and also continued to provoke youth by taking reference of Nepal. Where is this line coming from? This is a very unique detention order — you rely on something that does not exist and then you say it is based on subjective satisfaction.”In response, Nataraj told the bench that there is a separate department that prepares transcripts and said, “We are not experts in it.”The matter will now be heard again on Thursday.The apex body is hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, seeking a declaration that his detention under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, is illegal. The NSA allows the Centre and state governments to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India.” The maximum period of detention under the law is 12 months, although it can be revoked earlier.Wangchuk, a climate activist known for his work in Ladakh, was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests in Leh over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status left four people dead and around 90 injured. He is currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.Earlier hearings saw sharp exchanges between the Centre and the court. The government has justified the detention, alleging that Wangchuk made inflammatory speeches, attempted to internationalise the issue of Ladakh and drew comparisons with Chinese and Pakistani provinces. It also claimed that he tried to instigate youth and referred to protests in Nepal and Bangladesh, including “Arab Spring-like agitations.”Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the bench that all procedural safeguards under the NSA were “scrupulously complied with” and that Wangchuk was being treated fairly in jail. “This court is dealing with a person who is instigating people in a border area, adjacent to Pakistan and China, where regional sensitivity is involved,” Mehta had said.On the issue of health, Mehta told the court that Wangchuk had been medically examined 24 times since his detention. “We have examined his health periodically 24 times. He is fit, hale and hearty. He had some digestive issues; he is being treated. There is nothing to worry about, nothing alarming. We can’t make exceptions like this,” he said.He added, “The grounds on which the detention order was passed continue. It will not be possible to release him on health grounds. It may not be desirable either. We have given utmost consideration.”However, Angmo has argued that the violence in Leh on September 24 cannot be attributed to Wangchuk’s actions or statements. She told the court that Wangchuk had himself condemned the violence on social media and had described it as the “saddest day” of his life, saying it would lead to the failure of Ladakh’s peaceful “tapasya” of five years.In earlier proceedings, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre whether there was any possibility of rethinking the detention and had directed authorities to place the original file related to the detention before it. The court had also directed that Wangchuk be examined by a specialised doctor and that the medical report be submitted.

BENGALURU: India has emerged as the second-largest market for Claude, reflecting the country’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem and technically sophisticated developer base. Nearly half of Claude usage in India centers on computer and mathematical tasks, including building applications, modernizing legacy systems, and deploying production-grade software—underscoring the depth of engineering engagement across the market.Anthropic has also opened its office in Bengaluru.“India represents one of the world’s most promising opportunities to bring the benefits of responsible AI to vastly more people and enterprises,” said Irina Ghose, managing director of India at Anthropic. “Already, it’s home to extraordinary technical talent, digital infrastructure at scale, and a proven track record of using technology to improve people’s lives. That’s exactly the foundation you need to make sure this technology reaches the people who can benefit from it most.”India is home to over a billion people who speak one of over a dozen officially recognized languages. However, AI models have historically demonstrated stronger performance in English than in many Indic languages. Six months ago, Anthropic launched a company-wide initiative to address this disparity by curating higher-quality, more representative training data across 10 of India’s most widely spoken languages: Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, and Urdu.This effort has already led to measurable improvements in model fluency, with ongoing work focused on further enhancing multilingual performance.Anthropic is now collaborating with Karya and the Collective Intelligence Project to develop rigorous evaluation benchmarks that test model performance on locally relevant tasks. These evaluations span domains such as agriculture and law and are being designed in partnership with domain experts from leading Indian nonprofits, including Digital Green and Adalat AI.The evaluations will assess real-world utility in Indian contexts and are expected to inform future model improvements for Indic language speakers and sector-specific applications.